LEP and Obesity: In individuals with obesity, the levels of inflammatory adipokines such as leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which are secreted by adipose tissue, are elevated (Baillargeon and Rose, 2006).